The Search for RID’s CEO

The Search for RID’s CEO

Application Submission Period is Now Closed

RID's Search for CEO

The Search for RID’s CEO

Hi, I’m Branton Stewart. I am a member of the CEO Search Committee for RID. Other members of the committee include Region I Representative LaTanya Jones and Secretary Joshua Pennise. We’re delighted to announce the opening of a new position at RID – the Chief Executive Officer. Today I’m going to share some details with you on the application process and the anticipated schedule.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us at ceosearch@rid.org. We ask that all questions be sent prior to March 15. At that time, all questions and answers will be collated and posted on the RID website as a FAQ. Interested applicants should fill out the application, providing a resume or CV. A letter of interest (in both ASL video, and written English) must also be provided. The deadline for submission of all materials is midnight, March 26, 2018 (PST).

Upon receipt of the materials, they will be reviewed by the CEO Search Committee. We expect to review them the first week of April, and video interviews with the applicants will be set up. This interview will focus on their background and past work experience. The first-round interview will be recorded, for review by the full RID Board of Directors.

Applicants who are invited to the second round of interviews will be asked to produce a video to introduce themselves, and explain why they are seeking the position of CEO of RID. This video will be shared with the RID membership, the three Councils (Diversity Council, Council of Elders, and Deaf Advisory Council), and the Member Sections. The Board will collect feedback from all of these groups.

On April 26-28, the second-round applicants will be invited for a face-to-face interview with the full RID Board of Directors at the RID Headquarters building in Alexandria, Virginia. At that time, the applicants will give a presentation, and share their vision of RID, including its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as the candidate’s plan for moving RID forward.

At the conclusion of the interviews, the Board expects to make a decision within two weeks. The selected candidate will be offered the position, pending contract negotiation. When this has been completed, the Board will announce the new Chief Executive Officer of RID. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us at ceosearch@rid.org. Thank you!

RID President's Announcement on CEO and COO

CEO and COO Announcement

For the past 50 years, RID has operated with the structure of having an Executive Director and often a Deputy Director. Basically, one person was in charge with another person to assist them. In order to be more responsive to member and community needs, RID has decided to reorganize slightly, changing the names and job descriptions for these positions. In effect, we are forming a more nimble “team” of people, each with their own responsibilities.

The Chief Operating Officer is inward-facing; they are responsible for day-to-day operations, implementation of various parts of the strategic plan, member services, and Board directives.

The CEO, by contrast, is outward-facing. Their primary job is to increase the visibility and relevancy of RID within the community – “community” is an all-encompassing term, including the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community, the interpreting community, the disability community, and the rest of the world. Every interpreter facilitates communication between two or more people, and the “communities we serve” include both sides of the conversation.

The CEO’s job is to tell stories. They sell the vision of an accessible world for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing people who use interpreters in all situations, from births to funerals and everything in between. The CEO is also the Chief Advocate for RID. They are the person that “shows up,” leading communities to celebrate when success occurs, and guiding uncomfortable conversations when accessibility does not happen.

The RID Board of Directors is excited about this change, as it is a direct result of members’ strategic planning recommendations from the Salt Lake City Conference last summer. We see it as a necessary evolution in our pursuit of excellence, and a wonderful opportunity for RID’s continued growth of service.

CEO Job Description

Further Resources

The following resources will be helpful to you in reviewing the status of the organization, recent strategies and initiatives implemented at RID, and the current progress of RID’s mission to “advocate for best practices in interpreting, professional development for practitioners and for the highest standards in the provision of interpreting services for diverse users of languages that are signed or spoken.”

FAQs for CEO Search

Responsibilities

Please clarify the key differences between the executive director and the new CEO? What responsibilities and job duties are different?

The previous executive director position was directly responsible for all aspects of RID’s operations. The CEO continues to supervise all operations, but delegates the day-to-day operation of RID’s staff departments to the COO. The CEO sets the direction, tone, and strategy of the work of the staff while the COO focuses on implementation. The previous executive director role had sole accountability to the Board; the new CEO and COO are both accountable to, hired by and fired by the Board.

What qualifications and qualities do you hope to see in the CEO?

Please see the posted job description.

Would the CEO have any say in the daily operations of the RID national office?

Yes, the CEO directly supervises the COO, who manages the RID headquarters.

Does the CEO have any oversight responsibilities of the COO?

Yes, the COO reports directly to the CEO.

Will both COO and CEO be expected to attend all Board meetings?

Yes.

Travel

Does this new CEO position require the person to live in the Washington, DC area and be physically present at the RID office on a daily basis?

No, however ability to relocate to the DC area is preferred.

If the CEO relocated to the DC area, what would be the expected timeline for permanent residency to be established in the area?

This timeline will be negotiated between the candidate and the Board of Directors; there is no set timeline.

Will relocation expenses be considered as part of the compensation package?

Traditionally RID does not pay for relocation, however this could be considered as part of the compensation negotiation.

Since the CEO is more outward and connects with stakeholders, how much travel do you anticipate will be required for this position?

It is expected that the CEO will connect with various groups within the Deaf community. Will the CEO also be in charge of connecting with interpreters and any relevant non-Deaf stakeholders?

The CEO will take the lead in connecting with a variety of organizations relevant to RID’s mission. Additionally, the CEO will be the face of the professional staff to internal RID member sections, councils, committees and task forces.

Is there an expectation for the CEO to have formal use of social media platforms?

The CEO will assist the headquarters staff in maintaining an effective social media presence. The COO will supervise the communications department staff while the CEO sets the overall strategy and direction to be followed in order to carry out the Board-approved strategic plan.